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James Finnegan says ‘Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)’ is a fun, action-packed popcorn movie…
I’M not saying I’m Batman. I’m just saying you have never seen a photograph with both of us in the same room at the same time.
Now that I have got that old joke out of the way, let’s have a look at the latest DC based film, especially in the week that Joaquin Phoenix won the Best Actor Oscar for Joker.
Since the events of ‘Suicide Squad’ four years ago, Harley and her “Mr J” have broken up, as shown in an animated section and the most fleeting of live action appearances during this film.
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This means that Harley is alone, unprotected and almost friendless. Not a good place to be now there is a new psychotic gangster gang aiming for control of Gotham, in the guise of Roman Sionis and his sadistic henchman Victor Zsasz.
‘Birds Of Prey’.
Throw in the one lone cop, Renee Montoya, in a borderline corrupt police force, a trained assassin who is the lone survivor of another gangland family murder, a nightclub singer with a hidden superpower that comes in remarkably handy at a crucial moment in the story, and a child pickpocket who is in possession of a diamond that contains vital information, you now have the cast of what can only be described as a colourful, loud, action packed popcorn film.
Strangely, in the midst of villains causing havoc, death and mayhem all around Gotham, there is only the merest hint of the Dark Knight’s alter ego, but not a sign of Batman himself.
Perhaps a guy dressed as a bat with all those wonderful toys did not stand out enough in a cast of characters such as these.
It must be said that Margot Robbie stands out as Harley Quinn. She attacks the role with enormous energy, brio and enthusiasm and is far and away the best and most delightfully unpredictable character throughout the film.
This is her film in more ways than one. Ewan McGregor cheerfully chews the scenery all the way through in a sneering “villain of the week” performance as Sionis who also eventually gets to wear his own black mask.
The action sequences are spectacular, colourful and very inventive. The narrative between them unfortunately is of a varied tone, going from downright sadistic to almost slapstick.
Fortunately the baddies, or at least the very bad baddies, are quite atrocious shots and come at “the not quite as bad” baddies in single line, so they can be despatched within fist or kick space in as an acrobatic and stylish manner as possible.
Directed by Cathy Yan, and written by Christina Hodson, this is definitely not a kiddies movie. It is perhaps a good compromise Valentine Weekend choice for those looking for strong female characters leading the story in between loud explosions and fight scenes. Enjoy!
